SHACKLED

SHACKLED 6

He literally didn't leave.

Hanggang sa hospital ay sumama siya. Si Tita Dolor lang ang nadatnan ko and I was so disappointed when she said she can't reach my mom.

Tahimik lang kami while waiting sa doctor na umaasikaso kay papa. Tita Dolor said that they have to conduct several test to check my father's condition.

He was diagnosed with stage 3 lung cancer six months ago.

Noon lang din namin nalaman na palihim na nagpapacheck up si papa.

A month after that, rumours about my mom started spreading like an infectious virus.

Marami raw nakakakita sakaniya na she's with different guys. May mga nag-sasabi pang she's having an affair with a married councilor. Meron ding nag-sasabi na escort daw siya and she's receiving a hefty sum of money.

I refused to believe them but I know I'm lying with myself. I'm in denial.

I witnessed some of her affairs. I witnessed her going out with different man. I asked her several times then she'd always end up saying it's work.

She even got so mad one time when I said I saw her with someone. Sinabi niyang katulad daw ako ni papa na makitid mag-isip.

So I stopped asking her, as well as talking to her.

I know it's rude but I just can't help it. Kapag kakausapin niya ako ay hindi ko siya papansinin, na parang hindi ko siya naririnig.

I was like that because maybe I refused to accept that she's betraying us and destroying our family.

She's my role model when I was young and I can't accept the fact she's being like what people say. Home wrecker, kabit, wench, and worst a whore.

I can't even say everything to my father, even if I saw it with my own eyes.

Somehow, I realized now that my father probably know everything. We just kept silent because both of us are scared. We're both protecting something.

Lumabas ang doctor at kinausap kami ni tita.

He said that father passed out because of stress and exhaustion. He's doing fine so we don't have to worry.

"He just need some rest. Also, make sure that he's taking care of his health. He's doing fine now but we're not sure of what can happen in the future." He smiled then leave. Dahil sa sinabi ng doctor ay nakahinga ako ng maluwag.

Pagkapasok namin sa room ni papa ay nadatnan namin siyang mahimbing na natutulog.

"Bibili lang ako ng makakain." Tumayo si tita pero pinigilan siya ni Travis."Ah ako nalang po." Pagprisinta niya.

Lumabas siya agad nang makitang naglalabas ng pera si tita sa wallet niya.

Pagkaalis niya ay binigyan ako ng makahulugang titig ni tita.

"Tita, it's not what you're thinking." I said. "Wala naman akong sinasabi ha. Why so defensive?" Nang-aasar niya namang sagot.

"Saan mo naman nadekwat 'yun?" Nang-aasar pang sabi ni tita. "Wala po tita sinamahan ko lang."

"Sinamahan lang? Infair nak ah may taste ka din."

"Tita shh lang, baka marinig ka ni papa bigla nalang magising." Bigla nalang bumukas ang pinto kaya nagulat di tita.

"Hay anak ka ng siomai!" Pagkapasok kasi ni George ay humahagulgol ito.

Lumapit siya sa higaan ni papa at nag-drama. "Anak ka te?" I jokingly said. "Oo baket?" Mataray niya namang sabi.